Board Attorney Donald Sweeney said the draft agreement was not ready in time for the board to vote on this morning. It is still being reviewed by Freeman's attorney, Sweeney said, but he said an agreement is still likely, perhaps later this week.

"This delay is not a function of disagreement, but a result of logistics," he said. "We remain optimistic that a settlement agreement will be signed."

The board of education voted unanimously Monday night to seek a settlement agreement to end Freeman's contract, after almost eight years as the system's superintendent. Board President Bill Roberts said the overriding reason was the consistent turnover of principals at Hewitt-Trussville High School. In the past seven years, the school has had five different principals. Last week, Principal Zack Barnes resigned to take the principal's post at Homewood High School.